Texas @ Oklahoma State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 15, 2011 ) Oklahoma State 38, Texas 26

No. 10 Texas tries to regain its previous status as a Big 12 powerhouse and No. 22 Oklahoma State begins defense of its conference championship crown when the two teams meet Saturday in Stillwater, Okla. The Longhorns went just 6-11 in Big 12 play over the previous two seasons – including two home losses to the Cowboys, a program they had beaten in 22 of the previous 24 meetings. Oklahoma State is 20-5 in conference play over the past three seasons. The Cowboys will likely start redshirt freshman quarterback J.W. Walsh in place of injured Wes Lunt (leg). Both teams have had two weeks to prepare after being off last Saturday.

TV: 7:50 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Texas -2.5.

ABOUT TEXAS (3-0, 0-0 Big 12): The Longhorns are clicking under sophomore quarterback David Ash. Texas accumulated 676 yards – second-most in school history – during a 66-31 victory over Mississippi two Saturdays ago as Ash passed for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Overall, Ash is completing 76.4 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns against no interceptions. Sophomores Malcolm Brown (238 yards) and Joe Bergeron (207) have split the rushing workload. Sophomore cornerback Quandre Diggs has three of the Longhorns’ six interceptions. Senior defensive end Alex Okafor has three sacks and junior defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat has a team-best four tackles for loss, including two sacks.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (2-1, 0-0 Big 12): The Cowboys lead the nation in scoring (62.3) and total offense (683.0). Walsh replaced Lunt early in a 65-24 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette and passed for 347 yards as Oklahoma State rolled up a school-record 742 yards. Lunt, a true freshman, had a cast removed from his leg on Sunday and is considered doubtful. Junior running back Joseph Randle (335 yards) has three straight 100-yard games and nine in his career. The Cowboys are allowing 27.7 points per game and surrendered a whopping 59 in a loss to Arizona. Oklahoma State has forced just three turnovers.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oklahoma State has won eight consecutive home games, one shy of the school record set in 1984-85.

2. Texas’ only loss in Stillwater came back in 1997. The Longhorns routed the Cowboys 41-14 in 2009 in their most recent game at Boone Pickens Stadium.

3. The Cowboys have scored 30 or more points in 21 straight games, the longest streak in the nation.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 34, Texas 31.